Continuous phase shifter/resolver employing a rotary halfwave plate

ABSTRACT

A rotary coaxial phase shifter/resolver providing continuous low-loss phase shift or signal resolving capability over a broad band or frequencies. A rotatable balanced coaxial halfwave plate is capacitively coupled between balanced input and output dual orthogonally polarized coaxial launchers, which launchers are in turn coupled to respectively input and output feed arrangements appropriate to the particular mode of operation. The input and output launchers each consist of a stationary balanced stator having a plurality of concentrically arranged capacitive plates to permit excitation of duel orthogonal coaxial balanced line modes and a balanced rotor having a plurality of capacitive plates in one-to-one correspondence with and concentrically arranged inside the stator plates about the same axis for coupling and transferring the signals in the two orthogonally polarized modes. The halfwave plate includes a pair of orthogonal balanced transmission lines, the conductors of one of which are reversed to provide a 180* phase reversal between the input and output launchers for one of the orthogonally excited electric field components. The relative phase/polarization shift derived from input launcher to output launcher is in a two-to-one correspondence with the physical angle of rotation of the halfwave plate.

United States Patent Spanos 1 June 27, 1972 [72] Inventor: William M.Spanos, Wayne, NJ.

International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, Nutley, NJ.

22 Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 113,532

[73] Assignee:

52 use: ..333/s,31s 661,323/93, 333/21 A, 333 24 0, 333 31 R 51 Int.Cl..-.n01 1/1s,H01 3 04 [58] Field ofSearch ..3l8/66 l, 662; 323/93, 128;333/4, 5, 24 C, 31 R, 21 A; 328/155; 340/200 Resolver Handbook, ReevesInstrument Corp., Garden City, NY, 1954, pp. 6 and 17.

Primary Examiner-Paul L. Gensler Attorney-C. Cornell Remsen, .lr.,Walter J. Baum, Paul W. I-Iemminger, Charles L. Johnson, Jr., Philip M.Bolton, Isidore Togut, Edward Goldberg and Menotti J. Lombardi, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A rotary coaxial phase shifter/resolver providingcontinuous low-loss phase shift or signal resolving capability over abroad band or frequencies. A rotatable balanced coaxial halfwave plateis capacitively coupled between balanced input and output dualorthogonally polarized coaxial launchers, which launchers are in turncoupled to respectively input and output feed arrangements appropriateto the particular mode of operation. The input and output launchers eachconsist of a stationary balanced stator having a plurality ofconcentrically arranged capacitive plates to permit excitation of due]orthogonal coaxial balanced line modes and a balanced rotor having aplurality of capacitive plates in one-to-one correspondence with andconcentrically arranged inside the stator plates about the same axis forcoupling and transferring the signals in the two orthogonally polarizedmodes. The halfwave plate includes a pair of orthogonal balancedtransmission lines, the conductors of one of which are reversed toprovide a 180 phase reversal between the input and output launchers forone of the orthogonally excited electric field components. The relativephase/polarization shift derived from input launcher to output launcheris in a two-to-one correspondence with the physical angle of rotation ofthe halfwave plate.

19 Clains, 1 1 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJIIIZ! m2 3,. 673 51 6' SHEET 10F4 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. SPA/V05 AG ENT PATENTEDJUHZ? x972 SHEET 2 OF 4INVENTOR WILLIAM M. SPANOS W M 2 7 AGENT PATENTEUJUHN I972 3,673,516

' sum w 4 EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT OR ON BALANCED LIA/5 A-A iQ-B TAT R ROTOR/HALFWAV PLATE INPUT /Z) I SECTOR OUTPUT INVENTOR WM LIAM M. SPA/V05AGENT CONTINUOUS PHASE SHIFTER/RESOLVER EMPLOYING A ROTARY I-IALFWAVEPLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to phaseshifters and resolvers, and more particularly to continuous rotary phaseshifters/resolvers which are matched over a broad band of frequencies.

Phase shifting and resolver devices are particularly useful in thetransformation of antenna polarization axes and for antenna patterncontrol. In general, the only electrical difference between thesedevices is the phase with which the input (and output) components arefed. At the higher microwave frequencies these devices are readilydesigned into waveguide structures in which polarization of theelectrical field is employed to make the device operational. However, atlower RF frequencies, such as below the UHF range, waveguide devicesbecome very large and impractical.

Related devices have been developed for use at RF and IF frequencies;they are, however, mismatched devices in general, with inherent highloss characteristics. Goniometers are used to perform resolvingfunctions in low frequency direction finding receiving systems. Suchphase shifting devices are useful at lower frequencies where mismatchesand high losses are overcome through use of amplifier stages foramplification and isolation. These devices cannot be used in passivesystems operating at RF frequencies where it is essential that losses beminimized and impedances matched.

Coaxial phase shifter/resolver arrangements are known for operation atthe lower RF frequencies as defined above, wherein a pair of launchersections are mated together, with one physically rotated with respect tothe other to achieve the desired shift. A one-to-one correspondenceexists between the physical angle of rotation and the angle of theprinciple polarization axis (in the case of resolver use) or the phaseshift angle produced in a phase shifting application. The physicalrotation of one launcher with respect to the other, however, gives riseto some rotary-joint/sliding-contact problems, and generally leads to acumbersome and electrically undesirable arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a matched continuous rotary coaxial phase shifter/resolver forfrequencies generally below the UHF range having small physicaldimensions and which is capable of relatively high power transmissions.

It is another object of this invention to provide a continuous phaseshifter/resolver which is matched over a broad band of frequencies witha substantially linear phase shift as a function of shaft angle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rotary continuousphase shifter/resolver which eliminates the need for rotary joints orrotary contacts and the physical rotation of one launcher with respectto the other.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a continuousrotary phase shifter/resolver utilizing a rotatable halfwave plate.

According to the broader aspects of this invention, the physicalrotation of input and/or output launcher sections and the attendantproblems and drawbacks associated therewith are eliminated by theinsertion of a halfwave plate coupled between input and output launchermeans, and rotating the halfwave plate to produce the desiredpolarization or phase shift. The halfwave plate comprises two balancedtransmission lines orthogonally arranged about a common axis to preventmutual coupling, one of which lines is arranged to provide a crossoveror reversal of its conductors to introduce a fixed 180 phase reversal inone of the incident orthogonal polarizations, with the result that therate of electrical shift becomes twice that of the actual rotation ofthe halfwave plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other featuresand objects of the invention will become more apparent, and theinvention itself will be best understood, by reference to the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingscomprising FIGS. 1-6, in which:

FIG. 1 in a breakaway diagrammatic longitudinal view illustrates thebasic phase shifter/resolver construction according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along W- FIGS. 3A-3Cillustrate the rotary portion of the phase shifter/resolver of FIG. 1according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a feed arrangement whichutilizes the phase shifter/resolver according to the invention in aphase shifting capacity;

FIG 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a feed arrangement whichutilizes the phase shifter/resolver according to the invention in aresolving capacity;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate respectively a compensating arrangement andthe equivalent circuit thereof for further improving the SWR of thephase shifter/resolver according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative embodiment ofthe launcher portions of the phase shifter/resolver of FIG. 1 accordingto the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a low frequency embodiment ofphase shifter/resolver according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-3, thereis illustrated therein a coaxial continuous rotary phaseshifter/resolver according to the invention having optimized electricalcharacteristics, in which FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the basicembodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the line WW and FIGS. 3A-3C illustratethe rotary inner portion thereof, with FIGS. 38 and 3C representingcross-sectional and longitudinal views of the perspective view of FIG.3A taken respectively along the lines X-X and YY.

The arrangement provides almost complete symmetry as viewedlongitudinally and in cross-section, with the only significantdifferences being the ends of the rotary portion 4, one end of whichterminates in a control shaft 11, and the conductors of one of thetransmission lines of the halfwave plate at the crossover point 13.Thus, either the left or right portions of the phase shifter/resolver,as viewed in FIG. 1 may be considered an input section, with the othercorrespondingly connected to terminal circuitry as the output section.Therefore, for purposes of explanation the left section will be chosenhereinafter as the input section, i.e. the section including the coaxialconnections 1.

Signal energy is applied to and derived from the phase shifter/resolverarrangement of FIG. 1 via four input coaxial connections 1 and fouroutput coaxial connections 9 respectively. The outer conductors ofcoaxial connections 1 and 9 form part of the stationary cylindricalshield/outer conductor 3, and are positioned equally spaced apart aroundthe cylindrical outer conductor 3 and near the ends thereof. The coaxialconnections at each end are to be considered as two orthogonallyarranged pair connections. The inner or center conductors la of coaxialconnections I, 9 each terminate in a stationary inner conductorcapacitive plate 2, 10, having an arcuate shape which substantiallyparallels the inner surface of the cylindrical shield 3. It is to benoted that orthogonally arranged balanced line configurations may beemployed for the input and output feeds in place of the illustratedcoaxial arrangement.

Positioned between the stationary inner capacitive plates 2, l0 andextending within the outer shield 3 over substantially the entire lengththereof is a cylindrical rotary portion 4, which is shown extendingthrough the right-hand side of outer conductor 3 and terminating in thecontrol shaft 11 in FIG. 1,

and is separately shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. The cylindrical rotary portion 4is comprised of a dielectric core which may be hollow and twoorthogonally oriented balanced transmission lines 5, 6 and 7, 8 eachhaving two conductors oppositely arranged on the outer surface of thecore. The conductors 5-8, at least in the range of the stationary innercapacitive plates 2, 10, are broad-surfaced and shaped to the core ofthe rotor portion 4 so as to be substantially parallel and closelyadjacent to the stationary plates 2, 10. The broad portions of theconductors 5-8, in the range of the stationary plates 2, 10, constituterotary inner conductor capacitive plates. It is intended, in order toestablish the true transmission properties, that the dielectric supportcore portion of the rotor 4 be composed of low-loss material such astexolite or teflon and constructed (machined) in a manner which reduceslosses through the entire unit to a value which is negligible incomparison to that encountered in the feed arrangements andinterconnecting cabling.

While keeping in mind the optimization of transmission properties, itmay be advantageous from a structural construction point of view to giveadditional support to the stationary plates 2 by enclosing the entirerotary assembly including the core 4 and the transmission lineconductors 5-8 in a hollow dielectric cylinder, the thickness of whichclosely corresponds to the spacing between the stationary and rotorcapacitive plates.

A channel 12 is provided through the middle of the core of the rotaryportion 4 to permit the conductors of one transmission line 5, 6 toreverse or cross over to the opposite side of the core. Via thecrossover occurring at point 13, as particularly indicated and shown inFIGS. 1 and 3A, conductors 5 and 6 comprise a balanced transmission linewhich introduces a 180 phase reversal between input and output coaxialconnections l and 9. This is accomplished by having conductor 6 passthrough conductor 5 substantially at the center of the channel 12. Theremaining conductors 7, 8 which constitute the other balancedtransmission line extend, as shown, straight through from input tooutput without reversal or crossover. The orthogonal arrangement of thebalanced transmission lines on the core 4 as described above constitutesa rotary halfwave plate. The operative arrangement of the stationaryplates 2 with the rotary plates 5-8 constitutes the input launcher; thesymmetrical equivalent thereto comprising stationary plates 10 androtary plates 5-8 constitutes the output launcher, as conventionallydecided hereinbefore. The inventive concept therefore essentiallycomprises a phase shifter/resolver having a basic inputlauncher-halfwave plate output launcher configuration.

OPERATION FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate basic feed arrangements for operationrespectively as a phase shifter and a resolver. The designation input oroutput in FIGS. 4 and 5 indicates the complete symmetry which exists inthe chosen feed arrangements shown as corresponding to the input andoutput launcher sections. In FIG. 4 the signal energy to be. phaseshifted is applied to port 21 of quadrature hybrid 20. In theillustrated example, there results a 0 phase shift (indicated throughoutFIG. 4 as+) at port 23 of hybrid 20 which is coupled to the balancedport 26 of balanced hybrid 25. Hybrid 25 provides a 0 phase shift of thesignal energy for excitation of the coaxial connection coupled theretoand a 180 phase shift (indicated throughout as for excitation of thecoaxial connection designated-"in the figure.

Simultaneously, the energy applied to port 21 is coupled from port 24 ofquadrature hybrid 20 to the balanced port 31 of balanced hybrid 30,resulting in a 90 phase shift (designated throughout as j) at port 34for excitation of the coaxial connection coupled thereto, and a 90 phaseshift (designated j) at port 33 for excitation of the coaxial connectioncorresponding thereto. In the described feed arrangement, the otherinput ports to the various hybrids have been terminated and have noapplication in the given example.

The signal energy is then simultaneously applied to the orthogonallyarranged coaxial input pairs of the input launcher section, wherein dueto the balanced orthogonally arranged pairs of stator plates, there isprovided excitation of dual orthogonal coaxial balanced line modes. Asthe balanced rotor portion of the input launcher comprises two pairs oforthogonally arranged rotor plates concentrically arranged inside thestator plates, a capacitive coupling and transfer of the signal energyis achieved in the two orthogonally polarized modes. Upon the transferof the signal energy to the rotor portion of the input launcher a phasereversal is then automatically provided between input and outputlaunchers for one of the orthogonally excited electric field componentsvia transmission line 5, 6, while the other passes from input to outputlauncher with no change in phase, via transmission line 7,8. Therelative phase shift derived from input launcher to output launcher isin a two-to-one correspondence with the physical angle of rotation ofthe halfwave plate. Additional description as to the operation of thesymmetrical arrangement of FIG. 4, regarding the output launcher sectionand the feed network associated therewith, is deemed unnecessary asthere would result considerable duplication of the above.

Referring to the resolver arrangement of FIG. 5 input signal energy isapplied to port 36 of balanced hybrid 35, which in this feed arrangementmay be considered as operating as a power divider. There is provided ateach of ports 38 and 39 of hybrid 35 half the signal energy of theinput. Balanced hybrid 40, in receiving one-half the signal energy atits balanced port 41, provides an in-phase condition at port 43 and a180 out of phase condition at port 44 for excitation of the oppositelydisposed coaxial connection pair designated and in the figure.

Similarly, the other half of the signal energy is fed to the balancedport 46 of balanced hybrid 45, resulting in an inphase condition at port48 and an out of phase condition at port 49, for excitation of theorthogonally arranged pair of coaxial connections designated and As isthe case in FIG. 4, the other input port to the hybrids employed in thearrangement of FIG. 5 is terminated. As before, the halfwave platereceives the launched dual orthogonal signal energy from the inputstator and transforms same into output signal energy at the pick-up oroutput stator in accordance with the position of the rotor. The inputbalanced stator excites the orthogonal electric field vectorswhich arepicked up by the balanced input rotor portion of the input launcher.These in turn excite the rotor section of the output launcher via thetwo transmission lines comprising the halfwave plate. However, one ofthe orthogonal vectors excited in the input rotor section is of coursereversed in the output rotor section as the polarity of the feed in theone transmission line undergoes a 180 change due to the reversal of thetwo conductors thereof. Again, description in consideration of theoutput feed arrangement of FIG. 5 is deemed unnecessary in view of theobvious duplication.

The inventive arrangement provides for 360 rotation of the shaft 11corresponding to a 360 rotation of the halfwave plate, while providing acontinuous shift in phase or polarization in a twoto-one ratio with thephysical rotation. It is entirely within the scope of this invention toprovide the rotation of shaft 11 either manually or by some automaticservo or other electromechanical means. Thus, it can be readily seenthat the inventive arrangement has utility in automatic tracking oranti-Jam systems and the like. Although the stator plates 2,10 and rotorplate portions of the transmission lines 5-8 are shown with specificshape and arrangement, it is to be understood that optimization of theshaping of the stator and rotor plates and their cooperation may withinthe spirit of this invention take any practical form and size whichminimizes capacitive reactance-and maintains a low SWR over a broad bandof RF frequencies.

Further improvement of the SWR due to the series capacitive reactancemay be provided by using standard matching techniques such as themodified arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in which FIG. 68represents the equivalent circuit of the balanced line AA in FIG. 6A. Asshown, inductive susceptance has been added on each side of the seriescapacitive reactance in order to compensate over a broad range offrequencies. The result is a 1r matching network with high passcharacteristics.

It is to be noted that in the resolver mode the number of input oroutput terminals can vary depending on the application. For example,when optimizing polarizing for an antenna system, one input and twooutputs are used. For transformation of polarization axes, two inputsand two outputs may be used. Thus, it is not intended that the inventionbe limited to the resolver application as described herein in accordancewith FIG. 5.

An added feature of the invention, which has application when used as aphase shifting device for an antenna array, is the ability to extractsimultaneously two outputs each containing one-half the input power andwith one output having an increasing phase shift while the other inputhas a decreasing phase shift with shaft rotation (dual channel phaseshift capa-. bility). When used in an antenna array, the two outputs maybe used to feed radiators which are symmetrically arranged with respectto a center reference. When the shaft of the phase shifter is rotated toselect the correct phase delay for one element, it automaticallyprovides the required phase advance in the other element. Results inthis regard may be obtained by feeding a linearly polarized fieldoriented at 45 with respect to the stator inputs, and replacing thequadrature hybrid on the input side (FIG. 4) with a balanced hybrid. Thetwo phase shifted outputs are obtained by extracting signals from bothoutput ports of the quadrature hybrid in the output feed network. Thelinearly polarized input signal is resolved into left hand and righthand circularly polarized signals which are simultaneously delayed andadvanced in phase by rotation of the halfwave plate. The rate of phaseshift is still twice that of the shaft angle rotation. Thus, it is to beunderstood also that the invention is not to be limited to the phaseshifting application as described with reference to FIG. 4.

An alternative embodiment is proposed, in which the launchers in thephase shifter/resolver as described above are replaced with thearrangement illustrated in FIG. 7. Such an alternative arrangement maybe employed in order to provide operation of the inventive arrangementat lower frequencies. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the individualstationary capacitive plates 2 of FIG. 1 have each been replaced with aseries of stationary parallel capacitive plates 14 extendingperpendicularly in relation to the axis of rotation of the rotor portion4. Each series of plates 14 are coupled together at one end by a commonportion 15 which in turn is coupled to the respective input/outputcoaxial connector 1, 9. Additionally, each individual rotary capacitiveplate is replaced with a series of parallel rotary capacitive plates 17also arranged perpendicularly in relation to the axis of the rotorportion 4. The capacitive plates 17 are coupled to or are homogeneouswith a common portion 16 which is arranged on the core of the rotor 4 ina form-fitting manner. Each common portion 16 is in turn connected to arespective conductor 5-8 of the balanced transmission lines, oralternatively plates 17 may be homogeneous with conductors 5-8. Therotary parallel plates 17 are interspaced between and parallel to thestationary plates 14 in a conventional capacitive coupling arrangement.Of course a greater number of parallel stacked plates and/or the sizethereof, will permit an even greater extension of the operationalfrequency range.

Other specific arrangements of parallel stacked capacitive plates arealso possible, and therefore it is to be understood that the inventionis not to be limited to the capacitive coupling embodiment describedwith reference to FIG. 7, in extending the range of operatingfrequencies.

Another preferred phase shifter/resolver embodiment according to theinvention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 8, which arrangement isintended for operation at very low frequencies. Low frequency resolversare in general commonly used to provide sine-cosine functions for analogcomputation and for position readout from mechanically rotating devices.These resolvers can also be used as phase shifters through appropriateinput and output excitation. The prior art low frequency resolver isgenerally operated at power line frequencies of 60 to 400 Hertz andconsists of a stator and a rotor constructed with electrical conductorsand magnetic core material. The principle means of coupling from therotor to the stator is magnetic. Rotor excitation is accompanied bytransfer of electrical energy through moving contacts or brushes. Thesemoving electrical contacts contribute greatly to the failure in suchdevices.

The brushless low frequency resolver according to the inventioneliminates the need for use of electrical contacts by substitutinglauncher and pick-up stators and a rotary halfwave plate for theconventional stator/rotor arrangement. The halfwave plate, as was alsoindicated in the previously described embodiments, receives the launchedsignals from the input stator S1 and transforms same into output signalsat the pick-up stator S2 in accordance with the position of the rotor.The input stator S1 excites the orthogonal magnetic vectors which arepicked up by rotor section R1. The signals from rotor section R1 in turnexcite rotor section R2 via a pair of transmission lines L1 and L2,except that one of the orthogonal vectors from section R1 is reversed insection R2 as the polarity of the feed in the lines L1 is changed by 180due to the reversal of the two conductors thereof. Thus the criteria fora halfwave plate is established in the rotary section upon which theoperation of the unit depends. As before, the rotation of magneticvectors when using the halfwave plate is at a rate which is twice thatof the physical rotation.

It is to be noted also that the utilization of ferrites to achieve acontinuous phase shifter/resolver having the input launcher rotaryhalfwave plate output launcher configuration, for operation in thefrequency range bounded by the abovedescribed coaxial capacitive andinductive coupling embodiments, constitutes a further embodiment that iswithin the scope and spirit of this invention.

While the principles of the invention have been described above inconnection with specific apparatus, it is to be understood that thisdescription is made only by way of example and not as a limitation tothe scope of the invention as set forth in the objects and featuresthereof and in the accompanying claims.

, What is claimed is:

1. A broad band continuous phase shifter/resolver arrangementcomprising:

a. electrically balanced stationary input launcher means;

b. electrically balanced stationary output launcher means;

and

c. means coupled between said input and output launcher means forproviding a continuous phase shift when the arrangement is employed in aphase shifting capacity and a continuous polarization shift whenemployed in a resolving capacity, said means for providing saidcontinuous shift comprising a rotary halfwave plate.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said halfwave plate iscoaxially constructed.

3. The arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said halfwave plate iscapacitively coupled between said input and output launcher means.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said halfwave plateincludes an orthogonal pair of balanced transmission lines arranged on arotatable dielectric core, the conductors of one of said transmissionlines being arranged to provide a 180 phase reversal of the signalenergy conducted thereby.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4 wherein in providing said lphase reversal the conductors of said one balanced transmission lineextend substantially in parallel from said input launcher means onopposite sides of said dielectric core to a channel extendingtherethrough, in which said conductors cross one through the other insaid core channel to the opposite side of said core maintainingelectrical balance and extend therefrom substantially in parallel tosaid output launcher means.

6. The arrangement according to claim wherein the conductors of theother balanced transmission line are arranged substantially in parallelon opposite sides of said core and extend in orthogonal relationship tosaid one transmission line from said input launcher means straightthrough to said output launcher means.

7. The arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said coaxiallyconstructed halfwave plate comprises an outer stationary conductor andan inner rotary conductor assembly, said assembly including anorthogonal pair of balanced transmission lines, one of which is arrangedto provide a 180 phase reversal of the signal energy applied thereto.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said inner rotaryconductor assembly further includes a core of low-loss dielectricmaterial upon which said pair of transmission lines are arranged.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8 wherein said core iscylindrically shaped and is positioned longitudinally between said inputand output launcher means, said core including an extended shaft portionby which said halfwave plate is rotated.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said input and outputlauncher means include inductive means and wherein said halfwave plateis inductively coupled between input and output launcher means, andcomprises two orthogonally arranged balanced transmission lines, the twoconductors of one of said balanced lines being reversed to pro vide anelectrical reversal of the signal energy coupled thereby between saidinput and output launcher means.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10 wherein said inductive meansinclude a stator having a pair of stationary orthogonal inductors and arotor having a pair of orthogonal rotary inductors.

12. In a broad band continuous phase shifter/resolver, the arrangementcomprising stationary input launcher means, stationary output launchermeans and means coupled between said input and output launcher means forproviding a continuous phase shift when employed in a phase shiftingcapacity and a continuous polarization shift when employed in aresolving capacity, said input and output launcher means each comprisingan electrically balanced transmission arrangement which includes a pairof orthogonal stator portions and a pair of orthogonal rotor sectionscapacitively coupled to said stator portions.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12 wherein said balanced rotorsection includes a plurality of rotary inner conductor capacitive platescoupled to said means providing a continuous phase or polarizationshift.

14. The arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the input and outputlauncher means in the phase shifter mode respectively further includephase shift enabling input feed means and phase shift enabling outputfeed means.

15. The arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the input and outputlauncher means in the resolver mode respectively further includeresolver enabling input feed means and resolver enabling output feedmeans.

16. The arrangement according to claim 12 wherein said balanced statorportion includes a plurality of stationary inner conductor capacitiveplates substantially equally spaced from one another around andproximate to said balanced rotor section.

17. The arrangement according to claim 16 further including an outerstationary conductor, and wherein said input and output launching meansfurther include a plurality of respectively input and output coaxialconnectors the inner conduc tors of which are coupled to said capacitiveplates in one-toone correspondence, and the outer conductors of whichare mounted on said outer stationary conductor and in electricalconnection therewith.

18. A continuous phase shifter/resolver comprising:

a. an outer stationary conductor; b. a plurality of input signalcoupling means arranged on said outer stationary conductor near one endthereof;

c. a plurality of output signal coupling means arranged on said outerstationary conductor near the other end thereof;

. a first plurality of conductive plates arranged within said outerstationary conductor near said one end thereof and coupled through saidouter conductor to said input signal coupling means;

e. a second plurality of conductive plates arranged within said outerstationary conductor near said other end thereof and coupled throughsaid outer conductor to said output signal coupling means; and

f. a rotary halfwave plate coaxially arranged within said outerconductor and arranged to be capacitively coupled in an electricallybalanced manner between said first and second pluralities of conductiveplates;

19. In a broad band coaxial arrangement providing continuous phaseshifting or resolving capability, the combination comprising:

a. electrically balanced input and output launcher means,

including concentrically arranged inner and outer correspondingarcuately shaped conductive plates arranged for relative rotation abouta common axis; and rotary axial halfwave plate means for providing acontinuous phase or polarization shift, said rotary coaxial halfwaveplate means arranged to be capacitively coupled in an electricallybalanced manner between said input and output launcher means.

1. A broad band continuous phase shifter/resolver arrangementcomprising: a. electrically balanced stationary input launcher means; b.electrically balanced stationary output launcher means; and c. meanscoupled between said input and output launcher means for providing acontinuous phase shift when the arrangement is employed in a phaseshifting capacity and a continuous polarization shift when employed in aresolving capacity, said means for providing said continuous shiftcomprising a rotary halfwave plate.
 2. The arrangement according toclaim 1 wherein said halfwave plate is coaxially constructed.
 3. Thearrangement according to claim 3 wherein said halfwave plate iscapacitively coupled between said input and output launcher means. 4.The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said halfwave plateincludes an orthogonal pair of balanced transmission lines arranged on arotatable dielectric core, the conductors of one of said transmissionlines being arranged to provide a 180* phase reversal of the signalenergy conducted thereby.
 5. The arrangement according to claim 4wherein in providing said 180* phase reversal the conductors of said onebalanced transmission line extend substantially in parallel from saidinput launcher means on opposite sides of said dielectric core to achannel extending therethrough, in which said conductors cross onethrough the other in said core channel to the opposite side of said coremaintaining electrical balance and extend therefrom substantially inparallel to said output launcher means.
 6. The arrangement according toclaim 5 wherein the conductors of the other balanced transmission lineare arranged substantially in parallel on opposite sides of said coreand extend in orthogonal relationship to said one transmission line fromsaid input launcher means straight through to said output launchermeans.
 7. The arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said coaxiallyconstructed halfwave plate comprises an outer stationary conductor andan inner rotary conductor assembly, said assembly including anorthogonal pair of balanced transmission lines, one of which is arrangedto provide a 180* phase reversal of the signal energy applied thereto.8. The arRangement according to claim 7 wherein said inner rotaryconductor assembly further includes a core of low-loss dielectricmaterial upon which said pair of transmission lines are arranged.
 9. Thearrangement according to claim 8 wherein said core is cylindricallyshaped and is positioned longitudinally between said input and outputlauncher means, said core including an extended shaft portion by whichsaid halfwave plate is rotated.
 10. The arrangement according to claim 1wherein said input and output launcher means include inductive means andwherein said halfwave plate is inductively coupled between input andoutput launcher means, and comprises two orthogonally arranged balancedtransmission lines, the two conductors of one of said balanced linesbeing reversed to provide an electrical reversal of the signal energycoupled thereby between said input and output launcher means.
 11. Thearrangement according to claim 10 wherein said inductive means include astator having a pair of stationary orthogonal inductors and a rotorhaving a pair of orthogonal rotary inductors.
 12. In a broad bandcontinuous phase shifter/resolver, the arrangement comprising stationaryinput launcher means, stationary output launcher means and means coupledbetween said input and output launcher means for providing a continuousphase shift when employed in a phase shifting capacity and a continuouspolarization shift when employed in a resolving capacity, said input andoutput launcher means each comprising an electrically balancedtransmission arrangement which includes a pair of orthogonal statorportions and a pair of orthogonal rotor sections capacitively coupled tosaid stator portions.
 13. The arrangement according to claim 12 whereinsaid balanced rotor section includes a plurality of rotary innerconductor capacitive plates coupled to said means providing a continuousphase or polarization shift.
 14. The arrangement according to claim 12wherein the input and output launcher means in the phase shifter moderespectively further include phase shift enabling input feed means andphase shift enabling output feed means.
 15. The arrangement according toclaim 12 wherein the input and output launcher means in the resolvermode respectively further include resolver enabling input feed means andresolver enabling output feed means.
 16. The arrangement according toclaim 12 wherein said balanced stator portion includes a plurality ofstationary inner conductor capacitive plates substantially equallyspaced from one another around and proximate to said balanced rotorsection.
 17. The arrangement according to claim 16 further including anouter stationary conductor, and wherein said input and output launchingmeans further include a plurality of respectively input and outputcoaxial connectors the inner conductors of which are coupled to saidcapacitive plates in one-to-one correspondence, and the outer conductorsof which are mounted on said outer stationary conductor and inelectrical connection therewith.
 18. A continuous phase shifter/resolvercomprising: a. an outer stationary conductor; b. a plurality of inputsignal coupling means arranged on said outer stationary conductor nearone end thereof; c. a plurality of output signal coupling means arrangedon said outer stationary conductor near the other end thereof; d. afirst plurality of conductive plates arranged within said outerstationary conductor near said one end thereof and coupled through saidouter conductor to said input signal coupling means; e. a secondplurality of conductive plates arranged within said outer stationaryconductor near said other end thereof and coupled through said outerconductor to said output signal coupling means; and f. a rotary halfwaveplate coaxially arranged within said outer conductor and arranged to becapacitively coupled in an electrically balanced manner between saidfirst and second pluralities of conductive plates.;
 19. In a broad bandcoaxial arRangement providing continuous phase shifting or resolvingcapability, the combination comprising: a. electrically balanced inputand output launcher means, including concentrically arranged inner andouter corresponding arcuately shaped conductive plates arranged forrelative rotation about a common axis; and b. rotary axial halfwaveplate means for providing a continuous phase or polarization shift, saidrotary coaxial halfwave plate means arranged to be capacitively coupledin an electrically balanced manner between said input and outputlauncher means.